1. to a class experience that is both educationally and socially enjoyable.

2. to patient and dignified treatment by the class instructor(s) and sponsors.

3. to gain experience dancing to other callers and, if possible, with dancers from other classes, prior to graduation.

4. to receive advice and assistance in acquiring appropriate clothing for square dancing.

5. to instruction and practice using the approved definitions, timing and styling for each listed call. (Basic, Mainstream, Etc.)

6. to information about the history and heritage of our present square dance program.

All Thing Considered by Ed Foote Reprinted with permission from American Square Dance, November 2004

Tips For Better Dancing

How to Avoid Breaking Down

A. Keep the set small. Touching hands immediately after each call is one way to accomplish this. Large sets break down much more often then small ones.
B. Always have your set lined up with the walls. Often a set will become slightly offset from being lined up with the walls; now a Cast Off or other turning motion may cause some people to become disoriented. If the caller has the square Promenade and has the heads or sides Wheel Around, it is quite likely the set will not be lined up with walls. Solution: Take it upon yourself to make slight adjustments on the next two or three calls to get the set aligned with the walls. One person can cause the entire set to adjust, so you be this person.

If You Become Completely Lost

A. Do not turn around. This will make it difficult for someone behind you to help you recover. It is much easier to guide someone into place by guiding them from the back.
B. Turn your head in all directions to see where you should go. If someone says to turn around or you see that you should turn around, then do it. Otherwise, retain your facing direction and let someone guide you into place.
C. Do not wander around. Stay put until someone either guides you into place or directs you to go to a certain position. Do not be surprised to receive this help-expect that you will receive it and be ready to respond to it quickly.

If Your Square Breaks Down, Get To Facing Lines

Do this by squaring your set and then have the head couples slide to the right to form normal facing lines of four (each boy with a girl on his right). Now watch the other squares. Often the caller will get the squares back to facing lines several times before finally getting to a Left Allemande. When he does get the floor to facing lines, your square can now pick up the next call and you are dancing again. You may not finish with your original partner or corner, but you are dancing and that is the name of the game.
This will not work every time, as sometimes the caller does not bring people back to facing lines before a Left Allemande; but it works often enough to be worth doing. In fact, many callers will intentionally bring people back to facing lines in order to pick up those who have broken down early. If you do not accept this opportunity to resume dancing, you may have a long stand until the next Left Allemande.